Magnetic toothbrush-holder

ABSTRACT

A holder for storage of toothbrushes so to be conveniently handy for use, the device consisting of a case that can be mounted on a wall of a bathroom, the case having a pivotable front door for access to the toothbrushes, a rotatable vertical spindle inside the case supporting a permanent magnet wheel, each of the brushes having a steel block permanently imbedded in a side of the handle so that the magnet wheel will hold to the steel blocks for supporting the toothbrushes, and a lower end of the spindle protruding from the lower end of the device so that it can be manually rotated so to bring a selected one of the toothbrushes to a front side where it can be easily removed for use.

O Umted States Patent 1 1 [111 3,782,799 Hansen Jan. 1, 1974 [54] MAGNETIC TOOTHBRUSH-HOLDER [76] Inventor: Henning H. Hansen, 1000 Hayes Pr'mary Exammer paul Gllham Ave., Racine, Wis. 53405 [57] ABSTRACT [22] Flled: 1972 A holder for storage of toothbrushes so to be conve- [21 Appl. No.: 279,722 niently handy for use, the device consisting of a case that can be mounted on a wall of a bathroom, the case having a pivotable front door for access to the tooth- [52] U.S. Cl 312/206, 21 l/DlG. 1, 248/206 b rushes, a rotatable vertical spindle inside the case 2; g gig q supporting a permanent magnet wheel, each of the e ea c d brushes having a steel block permanently imbedded in a side of the handle so that the magnet wheel will hold to the steel blocks for supporting the toothbrushes, [56] References cued and a lower end of the spindle protruding from the UNITED STATES PATENTS lower end of the device so that it can be manually ro- 880,432 2/1908 Weidhaas 312/206 tated so to bring a selected one of the toothbrushes to L803'l94 4/193] Kennedy 312/206 UX a front side where it can be easily removed for use. 2,642,999 6/l953 McPherson... 21 l/DlG. l 2,642,331 6/1953 Sprinkle 3l2/206 x 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures MAGNETIC TOOTHBRUSII-HOLDER This invention relates generally to toothbrushholders.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved toothbrush-holder in which the toothbrushes are quickly and easily removed or replaced by magnetic means which is quicker and easier to do than holders having slots or grooves into which the brush must be precisely fitted.

Another object is to provide a magnetic toothbrushholder which forms a sanitary enclosure for the brushes so to protect them from flying dust and the like.

Yet another object is to provide a magnetic toothbrush-holder which hides the toothbrushes from view for a more pleasing appearance in a bathroom, and wherein the holder can be attractively decorated so to harmonize with the room decor.

Other objects are to provide a magnetic toothbrushholder which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily apparent upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention shown with door closed.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view of a toothbrush with a magnet attached thereto.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a magnetic toothbrush-holder according to the present invention, wherein there is a case 11 having a bowed door 12 on its front side; the case including a flat rear wall 13 with openings 14 for receiving screws 15 or nails to attach to a wall 16. The case also includes a top wall 17 and bottom wall 18. Preferably the case is molded in one piece of hard plastic so to be sanitary and inexpensive to manufacture, and it can be in any attractive color.

The door made also of molded rigid plastic can be either transparent so a person can see inside or it can be opaque with ornamental design in front. The door is pivotable on hinges 19 along one side and has a latch 20 on its opposite side so to hold the door in a locked position. The latch can be of any conventional type or it may consist of a magnet 21 secured to the case, and a steel plate 22 attached to the door for contacting each other. A door knob 23 is provided for easy opening of the door. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the magnet and plate 22 comprise flat, circular, equal sized discs of approximately an equivalent diameter as the knob, and the knob has a threaded shank extending through a lug integral with the door and threadingly engaging the steel plate 22.

Inside the case, a vertical spindle 24 is supported pivotally in a bearing 25 of the top wall and a bearing 26 of the bottom wall. The lower end of the spindle can extend out of the case and is fitted with knob 27 for being conveniently rotatable. A frusto-conical permanent magnet wheel 28 is secured around an intermediate part of the spindle.

The holder serves to house a collection of toothbrushes 29, each of which has a steel block 30 imbedded permanently in the handle; the brushes being supportable within the case by the steel blocks contacting the rim 31 of themagnet wheel as shown.

In use, to remove a particular toothbrush, a person simply rotates the knob until the desired brush is in front for easy reach, then he simply pulls the brush off.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a magnetic toothbrush-holder, the combination of a case having a door with latching means therebetween, a rotatable vertical spindle inside said case, and magnetic means whereby toothbrushes are supported from said spindle, a frusto-conical permanent magnet wheel secured around said spindle, and each said toothbrush having a steel block imbedded in its handle, for said wheel to support said toothbrushes at an angle to said case and spindle, a lower end of said spindle extending outwardly from a bottom of said case and having a knob secured thereto below said case, said knob being conveniently located for turning by a person so to present a desired toothbrush to a front of said case for easy reach thereof, said case being attachable to a bathroom wall. 

1. In a magnetic toothbrush-holder, the combination of a case having a door with latching means therebetween, a rotatable vertical spindle inside said case, and magnetic means whereby toothbrushes are supported from said spindle, a frusto-conical permanent magnet wheel secured around said spindle, and each said toothbrush having a steel block imbedded in its handle, for said wheel to support said toothbrushes at an angle to said case and spindle, a lower end of said spindle extending outwardly from a bottom of said case and having a knob secured thereto below said case, said knob being conveniently located for turning by a person so to present a desired toothbrush to a front of said case for easy reach thereof, said case being attachable to a bathroom wall. 